BUENOS AIRES : The 39-year-old Argentine captain announced his decision following a period of reflection after Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, saying the decision “hurt and still hurts” but that he felt the time had come to step away.

“After this time that has passed since the final, after much thought, I want to announce to everyone that I am retiring from the National Team,” Messi said.

“It was a decision that hurt and still hurts to my core, but I understand that it’s the right time.”

Messi leaves international football as Argentina’s all-time leading appearance-maker and goalscorer, having scored 125 goals in 207 senior appearances since making his debut against Hungary in August 2005.

His final World Cup proved that even at 39, Messi remained at the centre of Argentina’s ambitions. He scored eight goals and provided four assists as the defending champions reached a second successive World Cup final before suffering a 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain. Messi also extended his record to 34 World Cup appearances across six tournaments.

The defining chapter of his international career came in Qatar in 2022, when he captained Argentina to their first World Cup title since 1986, scoring twice in the dramatic final against France before Argentina prevailed on penalties.

That triumph formed part of a golden period for Messi and Argentina. He led the country to the 2021 Copa América, ending a 28-year wait for a major senior international trophy, before winning the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 FIFA World Cup and another Copa América in 2024.

It was a remarkable turnaround for a player whose international career had once been defined by painful near-misses. Messi reached the 2014 World Cup final and suffered successive Copa América final defeats before briefly announcing his international retirement following the 2016 Copa América Centenario final. He later reversed that decision and returned to lead Argentina into its most successful era in decades.

Explaining his latest and final decision, Messi said he believed a new generation deserved its opportunity.

“I’ve given everything; I have nothing more to give, and besides, there are some great young players coming up behind me who deserve to be there,” he said.

Messi also paid tribute to Argentina’s supporters after two decades of carrying the famous No. 10 shirt.

“Thank you for all the love over these 20 years. I’m going to miss hearing you from inside the team a lot. Now I’m going to be just one more of you, always cheering and supporting from the outside.”

He thanked his family, coaches, teammates and officials who shared the journey with him, saying he leaves with “peace of mind and pride” after helping deliver moments Argentine football supporters had dreamed of for generations.

“I love, loved, and will always love being on the National Team,” Messi said. “I’ve given everything.”

He ended his farewell with an emotional declaration that summed up a relationship between player, shirt and country spanning more than two decades:

“Thank you, God, for making me Argentinian.

“Go Argentina!”

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